Costume having puppeted sleeve

ABSTRACT

A costume for simulating an animal comprises an upper torso covering portion which extends to at least one shoulder, a sleeve and a hand puppet. The fabric, texture, pattern, look and feel of the sleeve coordinates with that of the shoulder to which the sleeve is attached so that the costume presents a realistic and whimsical long necked animal whereby the neck is the sleeve surrounding the contained arm of the wearer. Preferably, the hand puppet is worn by the wearer&#39;s hand and has an upper jaw or beak and a lower jaw or beak and the fingers within the hand puppet control the movement of the beak to visual and entertaining advantage.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an article of wearing apparel serving as a costume having at least one sleeve configured as a hand puppet which is an extension of the main visual look presented by the costume such that the sleeve, worn on the arm of the wearer, visually provides an elongated neck of the character primarily shown by the torso-covering costume with the hand puppet seemingly connected to the costume via the sleeve showing the long neck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dress up play, masquerade and disguises are a favorite for children. Halloween costumes are worn by children and adults. These articles of wearing apparel are worn at Halloween, at costume and masquerade parties, during Carnivale, Purim, and at other times, all for the playful enjoyment of the wearer and those coming into visual contact with the wearer. Such costumes primarily cover the wearer much like ordinary and day to day wearing apparel but are also for visually presenting themselves as something else. Often the costumes are meant to represent animals, creatures, and the like. The wearing apparel serving as a costume generally cover the upper torso of the wearer. They are sometimes worn with a mask, sometimes with pants or leggings for the lower portion of the torso and sometimes they include hats, a cape, hood, etc. The primary purpose of these costumes are, however, to present a novel character, animal, object for others to see and be amused.

When no mask is provided for the costume, ordinarily, the front and back of the upper torso-covering costume component conveys the image to be projected. So, if the costume is meant to depict or present a flamingo, the front is usually the main body of the bird, with the legs of the wearer being the legs of the bird—the legs of the costume being printed images of the thin legs of the bird onto leggings for the wearer. The head of the flamingo can be a mask worn by the wearer, but this is quite uncomfortable and generally the head of the wearer is too big to convincingly present as the head of the flamingo. Yet, printing on the front of the costume, below the wearer's neck is not a realistic representation of the person as a flamingo at all. It generally appears as a person wearing a shirt with a flamingo on it.

It is an object of the present invention to provide costume which more realistically presents the wearer as an animal, with a neck and head, and, in the case of a flamingo, camel, giraffe, etc. the presentation is far more realistic as their heads are coverings of the person's hand, at the end of their arm, and the arm is presented as a sleeve thereover as the neck, an extension between the main body of the animal/character shown on the upper torso of the costume and the head of the animal/character, presented at the hand of the wearer.

Relatedly to the known prior art, the primary mechanism to convey an animal in a worn costume is to design the sleeves and pants of the costume to correspond to the arms and legs of the animal or creature. That sometimes require a clear break from reality and usually necessitates that the wearer's head be the animal head. There is thus no ability for the wearer to talk to another as a real person AND for the wearer to simultaneously present an animal or character, with the head of the same able to move independently of the head and mouth of the wearer. This situation is akin to that of the realism provided by a ventriloquist holding a dummy such that his/her face is seen and, yet, the dummy, talking or moving independently of the ventriloquist, is very entertaining and compelling as entertainment. The present invention relates to a new, novel, clever disguise or costume where the wearer's arm can be disguised as the neck of a character borne on the main torso of the costume and the character's head is thus at the end of the neck, disguised by the wearer's hand. There is a need for innovative costumes that make alternative use of the wearers' appendages, particularly their arms and his/her hand. Such a creative and entertaining costume would be novel and unusual and considered as a terrific costume. Yet, importantly, the costume, with a neck and a head separate from the wearer's neck and head, would allow the wearer to easily move the character/animal's head and neck without their own head or neck moving. A highly diverting and entertaining visual image is thus presented. Also, the present invention allows for the presentation of a highly visually realistic look for the animal and, yet, does not cover the wearer's neck nor face. That is considered advantageous, too.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, in one aspect, the invention features an article of wearing apparel which serves as an animal costume, intended to be worn over the upper torso of the wearer. The coloration and design of the fabric for the main body-covering portion is intended to mimic or at least suggest the animal or character intended to be visually presented. So, in the case of a flamingo, the upper torso covering portion of the costume will be made of pink. Possibly, the costume is provided with a set of sweatpants, leggings, tights, etc. which correspond in color and visual image to the thin black legs of the swan. In any event, the upper torso covering component of the present invention has the look in color of the animal or character sought to be presented. If a giraffe is the desired animal conveyed by the costume, then the upper torso, body covering component will bear the typical patterning and coloration of a giraffe. If the costume is intended to present as a small dragon or dinosaur, the upper torso, body covering component is likely to be primarily green and/or adorned with scales.

At least one arm of the costume is a pattern and color continuation of the pattern and color provided by the main, upper torso, body covering of the costume. So, in the case of a flamingo, the upper shoulder on one side of the costume's upper torso component is a continuation of the pink body shown on the main torso covering component. Then, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sleeve of the costume, worn on one arm of the wearer, is a further continuation of the color and patterning of the torso covering. And, further to create a novel and entertaining costume, the hand of the wearer is provided with a covering, like a glove, which shows the head of the animal, at the end of the neck (the sleeve of the costume). A truly clever and innovative costume is presented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a front view line drawing or illustration of a girl's ostrich-presenting costume according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates a front view photograph of the child's ostrich costume of FIG. 1A with a blackened box shown to protect the privacy of the child;

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view line drawing or illustration of a female adult's ostrich-presenting costume according to one embodiment of the present invention quite similar to that of FIG. 1A, except as to size;

FIG. 2B illustrates a front and perspective view in the form of a photograph of the adult wearing the ostrich costume of FIG. 2A (again, a blackened box is shown for privacy concerns);

FIG. 3A illustrates a front view line drawing or illustration of a giraffe costume according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B illustrates a front view photograph of the giraffe costume of FIG. 3A with a blackened box replacing the wearer's face for privacy concerns;

FIG. 4A illustrates a front view and line drawing illustration of a llama costume with separate leggings according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B illustrates a front perspective view photograph of the llama costume of FIG. 4A, worn by an individual, with a blackened box replacing the wearer's face for privacy concerns;

FIG. 5A illustrates a front view and line drawing illustration of a dinosaur costume according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B illustrates a front perspective view photograph of the dinosaur costume of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A illustrates a front view and line drawing illustration of a flamingo costume with an upper torso covering portion and a pair of leggings with feet coverings according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B illustrates a front perspective view photograph of the flamingo costume of FIG. 6A worn by an individual with her legs intended to simulate the manner of standing of a flamingo;

FIG. 7A illustrates a front view and line drawing illustration of a baby giraffe costume, in the form of a patterned and colored shirt, with continuation of the pattern and color of the sirt extending down the arm and sleeve and then terminating with a glove in the form of a small giraffe head covering the hand of the wearer according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B illustrates a front perspective view photograph of the baby giraffe costume of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A illustrates a front view and line drawing illustration of a multi-headed dragon costume according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8B illustrates a front view photograph of the multi-headed dragon costume of FIG. 8A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND THE DRAWINGS AND FIGURES

The present invention relates to a costume which is primarily in the form of an article of wearing apparel, i.e., something which fits over the upper torso of the wearer and primarily covers the same. According to the preferred embodiment, the fabric, its coloration, the pattern shown thereon are meant to correspond to an animal or character sought to be depicted by the costume. This costume has at least one sleeve configured to present as a continuation of the fabric, pattern and coloration of the upper torso covering fabric and that sleeve is meant to provide a seemingly realistic or at least novel depiction of the neck of the animal or character depicted by the costume. At the end of the sleeve of the costume, preferably in the form of a continuation of the sleeve or as a separate glove, is a hand puppet which is worn and operated by the hand at the end of the arm. In this manner, the sleeve of the costume is the neck of the animal and the gloved hand of the wearer is at the end of the neck and can be operated in a very realistic manner. The mouth of the animal which is formed by the gloved hand can be hinged to the rest of the hand (the thumb corresponds to the bottom jaw of the mouth) so that the wearer can move his/her thumb and simulate the opening and closing of the mouth of the animal. Together, the upper torso, body covering component, the sleeve and the hand-covering puppet present an extremely interesting and often reallistic representation of an animal. In particular, the costume may be configured as a full body costume, a shirt, a dress, and the like or as separate components, e.g., a jacket with pants or leggings, with or without a mask. What is significant, however, is that the upper body covering portion of the costume is meant to resemble an animal or character in pattern, color, texture, fabric, fur, etc, and the sleeve of the costume, worn on the arm of the wearer, is a continuation of the pattern, color, texture, fabric, fur, etc. of that on the upper torso, body covering section and then the hand of the wearer is adorned with a further realistic yet whimsical extension of the neck to present the head of the animal, on the hand of the wearer, as either a glove or merely a wrapping of the hand, beyond the neck/arm.

The upper body portion of the costume may include one sleeve or two sleeves. The at least one sleeve may extend between the upper shoulder of the costume, covering that one shoulder of the wearer, and the wearer's respective hand, at which point the costume includes a hand puppet, preferably in the form of a glove. The sleeve may be configured as representing the neck of a relevant animal or creature. Relatedly, the hand puppet may be configured as representing the head of the relevant animal or creature, optionally including one or more head features (mouth, teeth, eyes, eyelashes, eyebrows, ears, nose, nostrils, hair, horns, fins, beak, etc.). The hand puppet may be a foamed puppet glove and may be hinged so that the fingers of the wearer can control the head, at least the opening and closing of the mouth of the head. Similar to regular hand puppets, the wearer may operate a mouth aspect of the puppet by his or her own hand, specifically having the mouth controlled by the up and down movement of the thumb of that hand in relation to the other fingers of the same hand. An opening may be provided at the cuff between the sleeve and the end of sleeve puppet to permit the wearer to reversibly and selectively remove the puppeted portion from his or her hand for comfort and/or convenience. Alternatively, the hand puppet can be a mere extension of the sleeve of the costume and integrated therewith.

The costume may include additional creature-specific aspects and/or accessories, which may be disposed on or separate from the costume. The costume may include a tail accessory on the rear of the primary upper torso covering. The tail accessory may be attached to a back side portion of the costume, a shoulder opposing a puppeted sleeve, or an end portion of a sleeve opposing a puppeted sleeve. The costume may also include a hat, cap, hood, or similar article to be worn on the wearer's head. The costume may also include a dress, a tutu, pants, leggings, stockings, legwarmers, foot coverings, and the like, either as a separate component or an attached component of the costume. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, one arm of the wearer is wrapped by a sleeve of the costume while the other arm is sleeveless and, yet, over the shoulder of that sleeveless arm are two or more feathers wo complete the disguising and entertaining look of the ostrich. As can be seen, most of the costume, like an ostrich, is dark or black bodied. One shoulder, however, of the costume, is covered with white “feathers”. Then, the sleeve of the costume, worn over the length of the arm, is similarly feathered, preferably in white, just as an ostrich, with the sleeve simulating the long and sinuous neck of an ostrich. At the end of the arm with the white sleeve thereon is a hand puppet which has a beak or mouth, a pair of eyes and eyelashes. The neck formed by the length of the sleeve preferably is covered by or at least extends proximal to the beginning of the head of the ostrich hand puppet. As can be easily appreciated, the thumb of the wearer extends into the bottom beak of the mouth of the ostrich while the other fingers of the wearer are in the upper beak. Thus, the wearer can easily manipulate his/her thumb with respect to the other fingers and thereby provide the appearance of the ostrich moving his or her mouth. Overall, the combination of the upper torso, covering wearing apparel, with the sleeve and hand puppet is quite novel and entertaining. Synergistically, the use of the same coloration, patterning, texture, etc. for the sleeve length (corresponding to the neck of the animal being depicted) and the shoulder to which the neck/sleeve is attached) enhances the visual effect. And, of course, as can be seen, the use of the feathers on the other side of the upper torso unit, on the sleeveless arm, and the use of contrasting colors to the neck and connecting shoulder, along with the attempted realistic simulation of the colors of the animal, all, add to the overall visual effect.

In one embodiment of manufacturing a costume of the present invention, a shirt, dress, bodice, or similar article is affixed with a foamed puppet glove at an end of the article's sleeve, opening at a slit or cuff. In another embodiment of costume manufacture, a jumpsuit is affixed with a foamed puppet glove at an end of the jumpsuit's sleeve, opening at a cuff, and a second glove representing a tail is affixed at an end of the jumpsuit's other sleeve, opening at another cuff.

The costume may include one or more reversible closure mechanisms such that the wearer can easily and quickly don and take off the costume. A reversible closure mechanism may be disposed in any acceptable location on the costume. Means of closure may be any industry-acceptable attachment means, including but not limited to VELCRO fastening, elastic (band or otherwise), buttons, snaps, and zipper, etc. Additionally, any industry-acceptable fabrics may be utilized for crafting the costume and its aspects and/or accessories, including but not limited to MINKY, velour, faux fur, tricot, crinoline, tulle (glitter or otherwise), felt, plush, satin, chenille (curly or otherwise), chiffon, foam, and the like. Printed fabric can be inexpensively cut to shape and sewn. Additional costume embellishments may be, may include, and/or may be formed of elastic, polyfill, silver rhinestone trim, feathers, and the like.

In the embodiment reflected in FIGS. 1A-1B, the costume is a child's costume that takes the form or appearance of an ostrich, in which one sleeve extends from a dress to represent a neck of the ostrich and a puppet is disposed on the end of this sleeve to represent the head of the ostrich. The puppet is a foamed and separate puppet glove preferably but not necessarily attached at the end of the sleeve with an opening at the cuff. A tail aspect, specifically a faux fur overlay, is provided at a shoulder opposite the puppeted sleeve, i.e., at the sleeveless shoulder. A shortened sleeve or no sleeve may be provided along with this shoulder portion. The costume may include a fur edged petticoat under a skirt of the costume.

In the embodiment reflected in FIGS. 2A-2B, the costume is an adult's costume that takes the form or appearance of an ostrich, in which one sleeve extends from a dress to represent a neck of the ostrich and a hand puppet is disposed on the end of this sleeve to represent the head of the ostrich. The puppet is a foamed puppet glove attached at the end of the sleeve with an opening or slit at the cuff to allow for selective removal of the hand from the puppet and reinstallation, when desired. A tail aspect, specifically a faux fur and feather overlay, is provided at a shoulder opposite the puppeted sleeve. A shortened sleeve or no sleeve may be provided along with this shoulder portion. The costume may also include a petticoat attached to a waist portion under a skirt portion of the dress. A back closure including zipper fastening is provided. The shoulder for the neck/sleeve of the costume is preferably a similar or same color, pattern, texture, etc. of the sleeve to provide a very realistic yet whimsical visual image.

In the embodiment reflected in FIGS. 3A-3B, the costume takes the form or appearance of a giraffe, in which one sleeve extends from a bodice (upper torso covering article of wearing apparel) to represent the neck of the giraffe and a hand operable puppet is disposed on the end of this sleeve to represent the head of the giraffe. The puppet is a foamed puppet glove having stuffed horns attached at the end of the sleeve with an opening at the cuff. A tail aspect, specifically MINKY fabric strips, is provided at the end or cuff of the opposite sleeve from the puppeted sleeve. A mane aspect, specifically MINKY fabric strips, is provided along the top edge of the puppeted sleeve. The costume includes a skirt made of tulle and giraffe-like patterned pants having an encased elastic waistband. A back closure including VELCRO fastening is provided. As can be here appreciated the upper torso costume component is primarily made from color, patterning, fabric to simulate that of a giraffe's skin. The sleeve is a color, pattern, fabric continuation thereof and in this manner represents the long neck of the giraffe. The puppet head (on the hand) also preferably is made from the same giraffe-simulating fabric. Overall, a very realistic and unusual costume is provided, highly entertaining and whimsical, with the wearer able to easily move and control the neck, mouth and head of the depicted animal—a giraffe.

In the embodiment reflected in FIGS. 4A-4B, the costume takes the form or appearance of a llama, in which one sleeve extends from a bodice to represent the long neck of the llama and a hand puppet is disposed on the end of this sleeve to represent the head of the llama. The puppet is a foamed puppet glove attached at the end of the sleeve with an opening at the cuff. A wooly body and tail, specifically a faux fur overlay having foam therein, is provided along both shoulders and extends to and over the shoulder opposite the puppeted sleeve. A sleeve may be provided along with this shoulder portion. Here, the sleeve corresponding to the neck of the llama is covered with wooly fabric and, again, the closest shoulder to that sleeve has the same wooly fabric, a continuation of the look and feel of the llama from body to neck. The costume includes a petticoat attached to a waist portion under a skirt portion of the costume. The costume further includes a separate component of a pair of legwarmers having an encased elastic top band and foot coverings. Preferably, the edge of the skirt is also provided with wooly-like fabric. The body of the llama thus appears to extend from one shoulder, across the neck (and back of the neck) of the wearer, across the other shoulder, to the sleeve and then to the llama head worn on the hand. This is a very realistic and whimsical effect.

In the embodiment reflected in FIGS. 5A-5B, the costume takes the form or appearance of a dinosaur, in which one sleeve extends from a jumpsuit to represent a long neck of the dinosaur (consider T-Rex or brontosaurus) and a puppet had of the dinosaur is disposed on the end of this sleeve to represent the head of the dinosaur. The puppet is a foamed puppet glove attached at the end of the sleeve with an opening at the cuff. A tail aspect, specifically a second glove, is provided at the end or cuff of the opposite sleeve from the puppeted sleeve with an opening at the cuff. The costume includes a foamed appliqué belly. A back closure including zipper fastening is provided. Here, again, the color, pattern and look and feel of the costume at the first shoulder adjacent to the neck/sleeve of the costumed animal, is intended to be a continuation of the color, pattern, look and feel of the sleeve—all to maximize the visual effect.

In the embodiment reflected in FIGS. 6A-6B, the costume takes the form or appearance of a flamingo, in which one sleeve extends from a dress (the upper torso covering component) to represent a neck of the flamingo and a hand puppet is disposed on the end of this sleeve to represent the head of the flamingo. The puppet is a foamed puppet glove attached at the end of the sleeve with an opening at the cuff. A tail aspect, specifically a faux fur overlay having foam therein, is provided at a shoulder opposite the puppeted sleeve. The costume includes a petticoat attached to a waist portion under a skirt portion of the dress. The costume further includes a separate component of leggings having an encased elastic top band and foot coverings. A back closure including VELCRO fastening is provided. The neck of the flamingo, provided by the sleeve of the costume, is a visual, color, pattern, texture extension of the body of the flamingo, provided at the upper shoulder of the upper torso covering component, adjacent the sleeve/neck).

In the embodiment reflected in FIGS. 7A-7B, the costume takes the form or appearance of a baby giraffe, in which one sleeve extends from a bodice to represent a neck of the baby giraffe and a hand puppet is disposed on the end of this sleeve to represent the head of the baby giraffe. The puppet is a foamed puppet glove having stuffed horns attached at the end of the sleeve with an opening at the cuff. A tail aspect, specifically MINKY fabric strips, is provided at the end or cuff of the opposite sleeve from the puppeted sleeve. A mane aspect, specifically MINKY fabric strips, is provided along the top of the puppeted sleeve. A back closure including zipper fastening is provided.

In the embodiment reflected in FIGS. 8A-8B, the costume takes the form or appearance of a multi-headed dragon, in which two sleeves extend from a jumpsuit, each sleeve representing a neck of a dragon and each having a hand puppet disposed on the end of the sleeve to represent a head of a dragon. The puppets are foamed puppet gloves attached at the ends of the sleeves with openings at the cuffs. A tail aspect, specifically a top-stitched tail having polyfill therein, is provided at a back side portion of the jumpsuit. The costume includes top-stitched belly and under arm panels, wire-enclosed wings, polyfill-enclosed feet with talons, and a hood including foam horns and fins and polyfill-enclosed facial features. A side-front closure including VELCRO fastening is provided. As should be easily appreciated, the upper shoulders and portions of the upper torso covering component of the costume is provided with fabric which is extended to the sleeves, in texture, color, look, patterning, etc. (or at least is a visual continuation thereof) so that the sleeves, within which the wearer's arms are located, appear as the necks of the puppeted heads at the ends of the sleeves.

The embodiments and examples above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced to them without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the invention. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted with each other within the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

1. A costume comprising: an upper body clothing component comprising: at least a partial covering, upper torso costume component simulating an animal body; a first sleeve for an arm extending from said partial covering, upper torso costume component, said first sleeve being a visual continuation of said partial covering, upper torso costume component of said animal body; and a hand puppet head corresponding to said animal body and attached to an end of the first sleeve.
 2. The costume of claim 1, wherein the hand puppet is a foamed puppet glove with a lower jaw movable with respect to the upper jaw by the fingers contained within said hand puppet.
 3. The costume of claim 1, wherein the hand puppet comprises a mouth element including a lower jaw portion configured to cover a wearer's thumb and an upper jaw portion configured to cover a wearer's remaining fingers.
 4. The costume of claim 1, wherein the first sleeve comprises one or more fabric elements disposed thereon which simulate at least a portion of said animal body.
 5. The costume of claim 1, further comprising an opening provided between the end of the first sleeve and the hand puppet. 6-8. (canceled)
 9. The costume of claim 1 wherein a shoulder of said upper torso costume component is a color, texture, pattern and/or look and feel of said simulated animal body and coordinates with said sleeve.
 10. The costume of claim 9, wherein the shoulder of said upper torso costume component comprises a faux fur overlay.
 11. The costume of claim 1, further comprising a lower body clothing element.
 12. The costume of claim 1 wherein said simulated animal is from the group comprising an ostrich, a giraffe, a llama, a long-necked dinosaur, a flamingo, and a multi-headed dragon.
 13. The costume of claim 1, further comprising a second sleeve attached to the upper torso costume component and also simulating at least a portion of said animal body.
 14. The costume of claim 13, further comprising a second hand puppet simulating the head of said animal body and attached to an end of the second sleeve.
 15. The costume of claim 14, further comprising an opening provided between the end of the second sleeve and the second hand puppet.
 16. The costume of claim 13, further comprising animal simulating decorations disposed on either said upper torso costume component simulating an animal body; and/or on one or both of said sleeves. 